Nicole Kidman channels 'My Fair Lady' for day at the races

05 NOVEMBER 2012

Nicole Kidman is currently portraying Grace Kelly in her new film, but the Australian actress channelled another Hollywood star for her appearance at the Melbourne Derby this weekend - Audrey Hepburn's character Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.

The 45-year-old star looked the picture of elegance in a lace L'Wren Scott dress with black and white striped ribbon detailing and a matching wide-brimmed hat by Stephen Jones.

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"My Fair Lady is one of my favourite movies," she said. "We decided to do something that was fun and a bit different. I'm doing a film about Grace Kelly at the moment, so it's nice to do it (get dressed up) in real life too," she said.

This was Nicole's first visit to the Melbourne Derby. "I love the races, being Australian, the Melbourne Cup has always been something that I have bet on, as a kid I used to go to the races, but I had never been here," she told the press.

The Cold Mountain star created a buzz when she entered the exclusive Birdcage enclosure, where she spent three hours in the Swisse marquee, mingling and placing a few bets, before jetting back to the set of Grace of Monaco in France.

Also at the races was Russell Crowe's wife Danielle Spencer, who chose a white custom-made Collette Dinnigan lace dress for the occasion.

Mother-of-two Danielle, 43, attended the event alone, fueling speculation that the split rumours are true. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Russell has separated from British-born Danielle, and is now ensconced in the US, filming the biblical epic Noah while he tries to come to terms with the break up. Things are said to be "amicable" for the sake of their two young sons, Charles, eight, and Tennyson, who is six.

When asked about the split, Danielle said she didn't want to comment - preferring to focus on the races. "I'm just here to have a fun day at the races," she said.

In June, rumours began to swirl around one of the most resolute marriages in Hollywood when blonde Danielle was pictured enjoying a night out with her Dancing With the Stars partner Damian Whitewood.

For his part, Russell has had no let-up in his schedule. Filming commitments for Iron Fist, Les Miserables, and Noah have kept him away from the family's sprawling $10 million Rose Bay residence for the best part of a year.

The actor tied the knot with actress and singer Danielle in an ultra-private ceremony at a chapel on his 560-acre Australian ranch back in 2003.